Why is it that vacations, once thought of as a time to “forget the real world”, have now become an extension of our work week. And, what are the repercussions?
1. Vacations help to eliminate stress. With “money” and “work” being the 2 major causes of stress, trying to “work through” those issues is not only dangerous to your health, it is counter productive. While the word stress seems so undaunting, it is only the cause to diseases such as heart attack, anxiety attacks, sleeplessness, high blood pressure and more.
2. Vacations make you think clearer. If you’re the kind of person that works, works, works, chances are you see blocks in your work time where you are becoming more and more unproductive. Because many of us tend to eat, sleep, and drink our work, we aren’t getting the rest we truly need. Are you getting 8 hours of sleep? Do you need prescription medications to allow you a good night’s rest? Studies have shown time and time again that we must have 8 hours of sleep every night. Without it comes brain fog and even diabetes. There’s a saying that “Creative thinking favors the relaxed mind…” and it’s true. If you’re seeing more and more of these burn out blocks of time in your work week, it’s not advised that you go on vacation, it’s necessary for your health.
3. Because you don’t have any extra money. Huh? That’s right. Vacations give our brains a chance to relax. Our shoulders come down from our ears, our spines straighten and our vision to outside opportunities become apparent. We tend to fall into routines. Don’t roll your eyes, it’s not a good thing. When our routing consists of being around the same people in the same atmosphere with the same issues and problems day after day, we don’t allow our minds to wander as when we were younger. We wouldn’t see opportunity if it was standing in front of us because we’re too busy. Vacationing in a different atmosphere helps us see things we can not see when living our day to day grind.
4. Family and Friends First. Jobs may come and go but family and friends are here to stay. Vacationing is a time to shut out reality and spend that time unwinding and enjoying… even rekindling our relationships with the people we love most. Often neglected in the real world, the people in our lives are what make us whole and well rounded. Not our job. By taking time out with friends and family, you won’t feel the guilt in not spending so much time with them in your “regular life”. This will help eliminate the guilt stress and it’s related diseases.
5. Because you want to live longer. Did you know that people living in countries where workers are required to take vacations live longer? Well, they do. In 1980 there were only 10 countries that lived longer than us. Now, there are people living in 41 countries that live longer than us. If that’s not enough reason to take vacations, then what is?
6. Because you don’t want to be an asset to the world, not a liability . It is said that job stresses and burn out cost our country over $300 billion each year.
7. Because you want to keep your job. With job burnout comes mistakes and incompetence. Jobs are hard to come by these days. When you are employed by an outside job, the hours you’ve agreed to give your employer each day are his or hers. Those hours are not for you to: space out, be sick, have brain fog or depression. If you’re required to be on your A Game 8 hours a day, then that’s what is expected of you.
8. If you own your own business, chances are you don’t have health insurance. If you do get sick, who is going to pay for that expense? Don’t expect a bailout from the government, we’re already being gouged for things we have no control over.
9. Because we need memories. Happiness is healthy. How often do you sit back in a nice comfy chair and reflect on your work day or how nice it was to be stuck in traffic? Memories are what put a smile on our faces and make us feel human. Take a vacation, create memories.
10. Because, in the end, you will never wish you’d spent more time at work. In the end you will wish you had spent more leisure time with your friends and your family. In the end, your family will wish they had more time with you.
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